Founding Backend Engineer – Shape the Core of an AI Scale-up

You know the type of role where you join a big team, fix tickets, and wait months to see your code live?
This is not that role.

Here, you’ll join a tiny engineering team at a scale-up in Amsterdam that is reinventing hiring. Every commit matters, every feature ships fast, and the product is used by real customers the same week you built it.

Bedrijfsprofiel

Our client is a rapidly growing HR-tech scale-up in Amsterdam, building an AI-driven selection engine that automates prescreening, assessments and scheduling. Backed by solid funding and trusted by European customers, they are scaling quickly.

The setup is pure start-up mode: a small, ambitious team (currently 4 engineers, soon 5+), no middle management, and short decision lines. Drive, learning and speed define the culture — if you love building and experimenting, you’ll fit right in.

Job Description

• Impact from day one – You’ll own the core APIs and services that power conversational screening and assessments.

• Scale-up pace – No corporate processes, no endless meetings. You’ll move fast, break things, and learn.

• Tech freedom – Python is our main language, but Go, Elixir or Rust are just as welcome. We care about engineering strength, not dogma.

• High visibility – In a team of 4 engineers, soon 5, your voice shapes product decisions directly with the founders.

• Ownership, not job titles – This is a role for builders who thrive in uncertainty and want to set the standard for others.
   

Who you are

Experienced – you’ve seen multiple environments (start-up/scale-up)

Language-flexible – fluent in Python or another modern backend stack (Go, Elixir, Rust)

Mentor-minded – you lift others up while pushing standards higher

Scale-up ready – you thrive in pace and uncertainty

Passionate – you believe in product impact and enjoy seeing your work live fast

Job Requirements

• 5+ years of backend experience (Python, Go, Elixir, Rust)

• Experience building scalable systems and APIs

• A product mindset – you want to solve problems, not just write code

• A start-up mentality – driven, curious, no 9–5 routine

• Living in the Netherlands, available 4 days/week in Amsterdam

Terms of Employment

 

• Salary: €80.000 – €90.000/year depending on experience

• Stock options after 1 year of employment

• A modern office in Amsterdam (office-first, 4 days)

• A high-ownership role where your voice matters

• The excitement and energy of a real scale-up journey

Important

We can only consider candidates already living in the Netherlands with a valid EU work permit. No visa sponsorship or relocation support.

Interested?

Want to join a scale-up where your code truly shapes the product?

Email d.gontha@haystackpeople.nl or call +31 6 2896 5652.

Keywords: Python, Go, Elixir, Rust, Backend, APIs, SaaS, HR-Tech, Scale-up, ATS Integrations, Start-up Mindset, High Ownership, Amsterdam, €80–90K + SAR